No. 17 Oregon uses strong second half to beat Utah Valley 69-54

Oregon center Waverly Austin, center, battles for the ball against Utah Valley's Mitch Bruneel, right, and Ben Aird during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
(The Associated Press)

Oregon basketball coach Dana Altman is greeted by members of the 'Pit Crew' as he walks on to the court before an NCAA college basketball game against Utah Valley in Eugene, Ore., Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
(The Associated Press)

Utah Valley coach Dick Hunsaker gestures to a player during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon in Eugene, Ore., Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
(The Associated Press)

Johnathan Loyd had 12 points for the Ducks (3-0), who scored 16 straight midway through the second half to turn a four-point game into a 20-point lead.

One game after setting a Matthew Knight Arena record with a career-high 36 points against Western Carolina, Young went 8 for 15 from the field with a 3-pointer.

The junior guard came into the game leading the nation in free-throw attempts at 14 per game but went to the line just three times, making each attempt. He is now averaging 26.6 points per game.

Mitch Bruneel had 15 points for Utah Valley (2-2), which was playing its second straight game against a ranked opponent after losing 93-40 to No. 8 Oklahoma State last Tuesday.

Hayes Garrity also scored 15 for the Wolverines, including back-to-back layups early in the second half to trim Oregon's lead to 34-31.

Up 37-33 with 15:28 to play, the Ducks took off on a 16-0 run to take a 53-33 lead with 10:30 remaining. Oregon went 6 for 10 from the field during the surge.

The Ducks shot 41.3 percent from the field and went 11 for 15 from the free-throw line. They also outrebounded the Wolverines 42-30, led by Mike Moser's nine boards. Oregon also had eight blocks and eight steals.

Oregon also had a 17-0 run in the first half that made it 20-4 with 10:45 to play. Young had seven points during this stretch, making a 3-pointer and converting two steal-and-scores.

The Ducks were up 27-13 with three minute left in the half when Utah Valley got hot. It scored 12 straight points, capped by a 3-pointer by Bruneel.

A pull-up jumper by Loyd in the final minute made it 29-25 at halftime.

The Ducks opened the game 8 for 13 from the field but made just 4 of 20 attempts the rest of the half for 36.4-percent shooting.